A Word in the Wilderness

A Word in the Wilderness

Luke 3:1-6, New Living Translation

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3 It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea; Herod Antipas was ruler[a] over Galilee; his brother Philip was ruler[b] over Iturea and Traconitis; Lysanias was ruler over Abilene. 2 Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness. 3 Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. 4 Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,

“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!

   Clear the road for him!

5

The valleys will be filled,

   and the mountains and hills made level.

The curves will be straightened,

   and the rough places made smooth.

6

And then all people will see

   the salvation sent from God.’”[c]

1. A word in a societal wilderness.  
2. A word in a religious wilderness.  
3. A word in a vocational wilderness for the messenger, because often orchestrated wildernesses produce faithful witnesses.
4. A word to challenge a people living through a spiritual wilderness because GOD was no longer at the center of the religious and spiritual lives; what happens when we become decentered?  GOD sends a disruptive word to place us back on track!

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